ABOUT LEIMUN

CONFERENCE STRUCTURE

SIMULATIONS

LEIMUN firmly believes that small committees of between 15 and 30 countries offer the best educational opportunity for delegates. Smaller committees allow delegates to participate more actively in debate, caucusing, and resolution writing. Larger committees can be intimidating, particularly to inexperienced delegates, and can be less engaging due to the limited ability for extensive participation. We only allow our committees to include more than 30 countries if there is an unusually high level of registration at a particular conference.

Because of our belief in smaller committees, our conferences generally offer multiple Security Councils, pared down versions of other United Nations committees, and smaller or pared down regional bodies. On these pared down committees, we strive to maintain a geographic balance in the countries represented. We believe that it is vital for delegates to take a wider world view and not merely represent the larger and more developed countries of the Western and Northern hemispheres.

A typical LEIMUN conference will include the following committees.

• There will be 2-3 regular Security Councils and may be a Reformed Security Council based upon a particular reform proposal.
• There will be either a Historical Security Council or Crisis Committee. Some recent examples of these are Desert Storm (1991), African Independence Movement (1960-1961), Iranian Revolution (1979), and Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).
• There will be 2-3 Ad Hoc Committees. Some recent examples include Disarmament and International Security, Legal Committee, Environmental Programme, Human Rights Council, and International Atomic Energy Agency.
• There will be 1-2 Regional Bodies. Some recent examples include Organization of the Islamic Conference, Organization of American States, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the African Union.
• Our Northcoast Conference also includes a Delegate A-Team wherein delegates must represent any unrepresented country on any topic before any committee at the conference whenever such representation is requested.

SUPPORT SERVICES

In addition to the committees noted above, the LEIMUN Secretariat offers the following.

• The Research Assistance Library (RAL) helps delegates obtain information during the conference. For the most part this includes assisting with computer search services, access to library research materials, and printing or copying of requested information. Delegates must rely on their advisors or RAL to gather information as committee chairs are not permitted to dispense such information to delegates.
• Delegate Services prints all conference placards and nametags, copies working papers, and types and copies resolutions and recommendations. All of these documents must be presented legibly, in the proper format, with the proper request form, and by the committee chair.
• The A-Team (Absent Nations Team) represents countries or movements not represented by conference delegates whenever such representation is requested. These are seasoned Model UN veterans who can represent any country on any topic in any committee in a very short period of time. This group addresses policy issues only. They do not provide research information and will reject any such request.
• Emergency Simulation Design creates crisis scenarios that are typically presented to Security Councils and regional bodies. These scenarios are a traditional part of most Model UN conferences and enable delegates to react to rapidly occurring situations for which they may not have all the information they need at their immediate disposal.
• Northcoast and Lake Erie News are conference newsletters that are usually published throughout each conference. These newsletters include editorials, conference news stories, biographies of conference participants, announcements regarding conference activities, cartoons, words of wisdom, and puzzles.
• Awards Evaluations and Tabulation processes the data on the evaluation forms completed by the chairs of each committee to determine which delegates and teams have earned awards

RESOLUTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, WORKING PAPERS

Depending on the committee being simulated, decisions are formalized by the passage of either resolutions or recommendations.  The process through which these documents are created at a LEIMUN conference is as follows.

• Delegates detemine what provisions their country requires and what compromises they are permitted to make in order to reach a final decision 
• During caucuses, delegates meet in groups to share their ideas and work together to construct working papers based upon their mutual requirements and compromises
• During caucuses and formal procedings, working papers are discussed and amended by the entire committee
• When the appropriate number of sponsors and co-sponsors have been attached, the working papers are introduced as resolutions or recommendations
• Multiple working papers, resolutions, and recommendations may exist, but only one may be passed on each topic
• Pre-written working papers, resolutions, and recommendations are not permitted in any form at LEIMUN conferences

AWARDS

LEIMUN believes that healthy competition encourages diligent preparation and the pursuit of excellence. By rewarding the outstanding performance of both individual delegates and school teams, we believe we are ensuring a higher quality conference experience. We do our best to walk the fine line between education and competition. In doing so, we have devised an awards system that fairly and accurately evaluates delegate performance in an objective way.

INDIVIDUAL

The President and Rapporteur of each committee are responsible for evaluating delegate performance in three different categories in each committee session. Each person completes an evaluation form, awarding a number of points in each category. Scores for each session are weighted based on the length of the session, e.g. four (4) hour sessions and worth twice as much as two (2) hour sessions. There categories are as follows.

• Portrayal of Country (1-15 points)  is the accuracy with which the country's foreign policy positions and diplomatic mores are represented
• Caucusing and Resolution Writing (1-10 points) refers to both the quantity and quality thereof
• Debate and Parliamemtary Procedure (1-10 points) refers to both the quantity and quality thereof

Evaluation forms for each session are tabulated and an overall score is determined. Awards are given based on the following overall scores.

• Superior       (29.50 - 35.00)         5 Points contributed towards Team Total
• Excellent      (23.50 - 29.49)         4 Points contributed towards Team Total
• Good            (16.50 - 23.49)         3 Points contributed towards Team Total
• Fair                (9.50 - 16.49)          2 Points contributed towards Team Total
• Poor               (0.00 - 9.49)            1 Point contributed towards Team Total

Those delegations receiving a ranking of Excellent or Superior will be recognized and awarded medals for their performances at the Closing Ceremonies. Committee chairs may also award the gavels as a special form of recognition.

TEAM

Team trophies are awarded to those teams with the highest point totals. First, second, third, and fourth place trophies are awarded to teams based upon the points earned by the team's top ten delegations. We also present a trophy to to the best overall "Small Delegation". This award generally goes to an outstanding team with only 5-6 delegations.

EVALUATIONS

All delegations will receive evaluations of their performance. These evaluations will include their scores on several aspects of delegate performance that influence awards,  their average scores in each of the three evaluative categories for each committee session, their overall scores in each of the three evaluative categories, their final score, and constructive feedback from the committee chairs. These evaluations are typically sent to advisors within a week following the end of the conference.

CORPORATE STRUCTURE

The Lake Erie International Model United Nations Corporation is administered by a 5-member Board of Trustees. The Trustees have taken on the conference planning and operating responsibilities formerly handled by Dr. Hammond and Kent State University, as well as taking on the responsibilities of operating the non-profit corporation. Trustee are Gold Members of the corporation, who are elected by the Gold and Silver Members, to 3-year terms on a rotating basis.

Each year, the Trustees elect three individuals to serve in the corporate offices of President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. From time to time, they may also elect individuals to serve as Chairman, Vice President, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Assistant Chief Financial Officer, or other positions as necessary. Individuals need not be LEIMUN Members or Trustees to serve as a corporate officers, though it is preferred.

Each year, the Trustees appoint one individual to serve as Secretary-General and four individuals to serve as Corporate Directors. The Secretary-General is primarily responsible for assisting with conference administration. The Directors are responsible for specific organizational areas - Research, Recruitment, Staff Development, and Fund Raising. Individuals need not be LEIMUN Members to serve in these positions, though it is preferred. Trustees may not serve in these positions.

Photos courtesy of LEIMUN participants